Julie Christie's Oscar warmup speech at AARP!

Julie Christie had a busy Monday. First she hit the Oscar nominees luncheon. Then she headed to the AARP's seventh annual Movies for Grownups Awards at the Hotel Bel-Air on Monday night.

After accepting an award from John Cleese and Dana Delaney for her remarkably poignant role in "Away From Her," Christie gave a heartfelt thanks and spoke of the power of film to educate people and effect social change.

Was she stirring up Oscar portent, perhaps?

"Isn't it remarkable that Sarah Polley, at age 28, should choose for the subject of her first film Alzheimer's and a very long marriage?

"It's a great time for film," Christie continued. "Films are being made that are helping us become aware of what is actually going on out there.

"There are powerful films being made about things that we have got to deal with. Films like 'Sicko,' about the inequities and injustice in U.S. healthcare, and 'Rendition,' that makes us aware of a terrible thing happening in America which has got to be addressed if the perception of America is going to change. And 'In the Valley of Elah,' which is making us see so clearly what is happening to the boys, the reality of what is happening to them in Iraq.

"I think it's great that these difficult films are being made, and I hope they go on being made. But I'm not going to go on much longer because I know you all have to get up very early and go to the polls, haven't you?

"And I hope you are going to vote for the best person to deal with all these subjects! Good luck!"

Photo: WireImage